All is not quite perfect here at May Dreams Gardens. There are some areas of the garden that have some issues and need some attention.
The first issue is this ribbon grass that I need to get rid of this spring.
When I was raking it out, look what I found.
It's an Easter egg.
I think it is from last year's egg hunt but it could be from two years ago. I was all excited when I opened it, hoping it might be a money egg.
But it only had three empty candy wrappers in it, which makes me think it might have been hiding there for two years.
Now I need to dig this ribbon grass out, but it is too wet now, so I'll hold off until later in the spring.
I still can't believe I got suckered into planting this ribbon grass to begin with or that I let it get this far. My only excuse is someone gave me this grass as a passalong plant a few weeks after I had moved in. I had not gardened for awhile and I was vulnerable. I was desparate to plant something, anything, in my new garden, so desparate that I planted ribbon grass.
I do not recommend, nor will I pass along ribbon grass to anyone else unless I know where they are planting it and why.
Another passalong plant that has caused me some real physical pain is this prickly pear cactus (Opuntia).
Yes, it's hardy in Indiana.
No, I do not hide Easter eggs in this cactus. That would be mean! This cactus is dangerously loaded with all sizes of pricklies just waiting to stick you if you get too close.
I keep it around because the flowers are pretty and it always surprises people to see cactus in an Indiana garden.
However, this particular patch of cactus has spread further than I would like and I need to cut it back.
A few years ago, I put on my heaviest leather gloves to cut some of this back and the 'pricklies' went right through the gloves and into my hands. Ouch! And the gloves were ruined, too.
My new plan is to cut this back with a sharp hoe and then carefully scoop it up into a bushel basket so I can carry it back to the compost bin. I just have to remind myself to be careful not to grab it or touch it or I'll be sorry. And I need to take it straight back to the compost bin without suffering from a GADS attack along the way.
I will only provide starts of prickly pear cactus after giving a suitable warning to the recipient about planting it well away from where children play and dogs wander. And never hide Easter eggs near it.
When I give away either ribbon grass or prickly pear cactus, I almost think I need to have the recipients sign a waiver releasing me from any blame if the grass gets out of control or the cactus "bites". Sigh, we live in such a litigious society.
Does anyone else have some plants like these in their gardens?
The first issue is this ribbon grass that I need to get rid of this spring.
When I was raking it out, look what I found.
It's an Easter egg.I think it is from last year's egg hunt but it could be from two years ago. I was all excited when I opened it, hoping it might be a money egg.
But it only had three empty candy wrappers in it, which makes me think it might have been hiding there for two years.
Now I need to dig this ribbon grass out, but it is too wet now, so I'll hold off until later in the spring.
I still can't believe I got suckered into planting this ribbon grass to begin with or that I let it get this far. My only excuse is someone gave me this grass as a passalong plant a few weeks after I had moved in. I had not gardened for awhile and I was vulnerable. I was desparate to plant something, anything, in my new garden, so desparate that I planted ribbon grass.
I do not recommend, nor will I pass along ribbon grass to anyone else unless I know where they are planting it and why.
Another passalong plant that has caused me some real physical pain is this prickly pear cactus (Opuntia).
Yes, it's hardy in Indiana.No, I do not hide Easter eggs in this cactus. That would be mean! This cactus is dangerously loaded with all sizes of pricklies just waiting to stick you if you get too close.
I keep it around because the flowers are pretty and it always surprises people to see cactus in an Indiana garden.
However, this particular patch of cactus has spread further than I would like and I need to cut it back.
A few years ago, I put on my heaviest leather gloves to cut some of this back and the 'pricklies' went right through the gloves and into my hands. Ouch! And the gloves were ruined, too.
My new plan is to cut this back with a sharp hoe and then carefully scoop it up into a bushel basket so I can carry it back to the compost bin. I just have to remind myself to be careful not to grab it or touch it or I'll be sorry. And I need to take it straight back to the compost bin without suffering from a GADS attack along the way.
I will only provide starts of prickly pear cactus after giving a suitable warning to the recipient about planting it well away from where children play and dogs wander. And never hide Easter eggs near it.
When I give away either ribbon grass or prickly pear cactus, I almost think I need to have the recipients sign a waiver releasing me from any blame if the grass gets out of control or the cactus "bites". Sigh, we live in such a litigious society.
Does anyone else have some plants like these in their gardens?
Comments
I had a piece of prickly pear where I used to live. It does look pretty when it blooms. Those yellow flowers look edible they are so pretty. I used tongs to deal with my cactus. They were most helpful.
Jan Always Growing
Before I realized that vinca was a THUG....I planted some, yikes. It is a horrible exotic/invasive.
Gail
But that's OK. For me it has worked out well, growing in an area where nothing else would grow because of all the gravel and stumps in that spot. It's green, it's verigated, so hey, works for m. However, it is invading into the other areas of the bed that are conducive to "more appealing" plants, so some of it may have to go this year.
I also have some vinca vine that has invaded far too far, yet for the same reason, I don't pull it. The area is too shady for much to grow there, so I leave the vinca vine.
I also love prickly pear, crazy native Texan that I am. I've never given any away, though...
I have given agaves away. Not as prickly as the pear, but agave spines can still inflict a nasty bite.
How cool to find an Easter Egg under the grass! At first I thought it was a golf ball. I have them buried all over my yard :o)
In the last 9 years, I've moved 5 times. That is my solution to planting invasive species. ;)
Of course I have several prickly pear plants, being in Austin. Heeding the advice of a horticulturalist at the Wildflower Center, I regularly trim them to keep them in bounds. They'll grow like crazy with a little supplemental water, so I have to watch them.
And I have some rather deadly agaves too, one of which stabbed my arm not long ago when I was trimming around it. Also some nolina grasses, whose soft-seeming leaves inflict sharp "paper" cuts if you brush against them the wrong way.
And then there are those darn, thorny roses. Geez, what we gardeners are willing to put up with for architectural beauty or roses.
Physostegia can be invasive here - and so can ruellia. I planted them in a pretty terrible location where other stuff wouldn't grow and hope that will slow them down.
Another GADS post! Pretty soon they'll need their own label ;-]
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
My horror story plant is also Vinca minor. When I bought Squirrelhaven, it was already here, between the hedge & sidewalk out front. I foolishly moved a bit of it to the back garden. 'Nuff said.
And the prickly pear? My best method of handling small to medium pads of cacti is with kitchen tongs. I keep a pair that are dedicated to this task. And yes, the tongs came with me from Michigan to Arizona. I had the same optunia there that you have. I ADORE their flowers!
Frances at Faire Garden
The plant I cringe at is Goutweed, Aegopodium podograria. It spreads like mad and the rhizomes nearly impossible to dig out.
Carol, I also advise you not to put anything prickly into your compost. Thorns are extremely hard and don't degrade much at all, even when the surrounding material is proper compost, and you WILL find the thorns in your hand a year or two later! (In my case it was a rose thorn.)